SUBSIDIZED COMMUTERS’ BENEFIT NEARLY DOUBLES

Commuters in 2013 now have another incentive to take transit — in the form of a bigger tax benefit.

Workers who ride transit or vanpool, and whose employers offer the transit benefit, can now set aside up to $245 per month through pretax payroll deductions to cover commuting costs, according to the San Diego Association of Governments, the region’s transportation agency.

The increase was approved by Congress as part of the fiscal cliff legislation, and is up from last year’s $125 monthly benefit, the regional agency said in a news release on Wednesday.

If employees work for a company that subsidizes their commute costs, they can receive up to $245 from their employer as a nontaxable fringe benefit, the agency said.

“This is a great program that employers can use to put a little extra cash in their employees’ wallets. And it’s not just employees who save money, employers do as well, in the form of lower payroll taxes,” said SANDAG Principal Planner Ray Traynor, head of the SANDAG iCommute program.

More information about the benefit and public transit and vanpool options is at SANDAG’s iCommute website,
icommutesd.com.

Chris Nichols • U-T

200 volunteers needed for homeless event

The annual one-day resource fair at Golden Hall for the homeless on Wednesday will provide clothing, food and a variety of services.

What it needs are volunteers. “Project Homeless Connect” is looking for 200 people to donate their time for the event that runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

To volunteer, sign up on the San Diego Housing Commission website
www.sdhc.org.